Last night I found two ticks on our Border Collie. As in the past, I got out the big old tweezers and grabbed the tick low and close to the dog's skin. I pulled, steady and firmly, not sharp and not too hard. Best technique aside, and for the first time ever, I got the tick's engorged body, but not the head.

I was really upset and feeling bad for letting down She Who NEVER Let's Us Down. I called the vet (a vet I trust and who we've used for decades). She said not to worry. The tick head will not bother the dog apart from a bump that may last a month or so. I said I heard it was very bad to leave the head in there untreated. Nope, she insisted, that's a myth ... and old wife's tale (She's an old wife )

Anyone know more about this? I checked on the net and the 'old wife's tale' seems pretty much the common wisdom.

Veteran "tick-puller off of dogs" here . We just got back from a quick trip to FL and I have that very problem with my ACD. I dabbed the area with some alcohol when I knew the head was stuck in there - that was three days ago and now there is a scab.

I have always heard to be careful to get the head because if it's left in, it could become infected. I would be careful to keep a close eye on this.

The next time you find a tick, try swabbing fingernail polish remover on the whole tick. That is suppose to make the tick "withdraw" from the animal and you can remove the whole tick with the tweezers. Alcohol is also supposed to work, but I have always used the fingernail polish remover. I have never failed to remove the entire tick with this trick, and I am very squeamish about these types of things. When I lived in West Virginia for eight years, though, I HAD TO LEARN TO DO IT, and this method worked for me.

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion
board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules
page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the
opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent
the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.